Being able to get through a challenge will improve your emotional resilience and give you greater ability to manage stressful situations in the future.
However, before you go seeking adversity to become more resilient, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
- You can build resiliency by taking on a challenge that is uncomfortable or something that you’re not sure you can get through.
- It doesn’t matter if the challenge requires physical exertion (e.g., completing an exercise event), physical discomfort (ever try cold immersion in an ice bath?), or a mental challenge (taking your kids on a long camping trip); they will all help to build resilience.
- In a stressful situation, your primitive brain wants to freak out, but if your PFC is able to talk it down, then over time, your entire system will settle down. With familiarity and context, negative stress can become a positive force for building resilience.
